Pages

Wednesday, November 09, 2016

BIO: Find your voice,
live your story…is the foundation of Edie Melson’s message, no matter if
she’s addressing parents, military families, readers of fiction, or writers. As
an author, blogger, and speaker she’s encouraged and challenged audiences
across the country and around the world. Her numerous books reflect her passion
to help others develop the strength of their God-given gifts and apply them to
their lives.

Welcome, Edie. Tell us how much of
yourself you write into your characters.

I think some of my personal quirks slip in—sometimes
unnoticed. For example, in this book, my hero is always unbuckling his seat
harness before the aircar is fully landed. One of my critique partners called
me on that odd behavior. Another spoke up, “Have you ever ridden with Edie? She
always unbuckles her seatbelt as she’s driving into the garage.”

What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?

Early in my career I was writing a profile piece for a young
men’s magazine on the BMW Driving school. Of course to write accurately, I had
to participate. One of the skills we learned was how to drift in a car. I also
was able to take one of the high performance cars out on the speed track—with
an instructor—and clocked out at over 140mph.

I imagine that was
awesome. When did you first discover you were a writer?

My mother will tell you that I began writing as soon as I
could crawl to a blank wall with a crayon in my hand. Truthfully though, I was
young when I was bitten by the writing bug. I wrote my first book—longhand, in
purple ink pen—in eighth grade.

Purple is my favorite
color. Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I love a lot of books, suspense, sweet romance, science
fiction, and I love classic cozy mysteries. My nonfiction choices are just as
eclectic.

How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?

I have two hobbies that help me slow down. I love to knit
and always have something on my needles. I also adore photography. Getting out
in nature and really looking at the world around me helps me focus on the
moment.

How do you choose
your characters’ names?

I’m usually pretty random—choosing names I like for
characters I like. But for this book, Alone, I did a lot of in depth
research and used Biblical names. I did my best to match characters to the
meaning of the names.

What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?

My family. My husband and I have been married 35+ years and
have raised three sons. The oldest two are married and live close by. Their
wives are precious and have become like daughters to me. Our youngest is still
at home, and I dread the day when he leaves. We’re all close, and the boys do
things together several times a week.

If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?

I would definitely be a cat. They move with grace, can bring
joy just by being close by, and they’re never worried about anyone else’s
opinion.

What is your favorite
food?

Unfortunately, I love a lot of different types of food. But
if I have to choose one, it would be TexMex. I grew up in Texas and for me, that’s the taste of home.

I love TexMex, but I
also love regular Mexican food. We’ve spent time over the years in Mexico with our
best friends who are missionaries there. What is the problem with writing that
was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

My biggest obstacle as a fiction writer is the fact that I
began my writing career as a freelance writer. I take writing tight to a whole
new level. In fiction, that always leaves me about thirty to forty thousand
words short after I finish my first draft. I have to go back in and layer in
the mood, setting, and subtext. I overcame it by practice and investing in time
at conferences and workshops.

Excellent advice for
any author. Tell us about the featured book.

This book began as an idea, 25 years ago. I love science
fiction and the idea of having a main character who was faced with a twist. So
often we see people portrayed as being willing to die for their faith, I wanted
to see what would happen when the worst thing that could happen to my character
was to make her live for her faith.

Please give us the
first page of the book.

Only the chimes, oddly sweet, told the passing of time. This
far beneath the surface, day and night were arbitrary, dictated by necessity,
not nature. Bethany
looked around at the other workers, some in standard issue coveralls and
others, like her, in the tunics of slaves. Only she and Elisheba carried the
mark of Seeker. They were the last two left in this worker block, both of them
female, one too old to bear children and herself just entering adulthood.

Slave or free, the designation didn’t really matter. Their
lives were all governed by someone else. She tried not to fidget as she waited
for the supervisor, and Elisheba gave her a half smile from the opposite end of
their shared station. The refuge of the chest-high worktop provided a place to
lose herself in the tedium of work. Bethany
nodded back at her friend, unwilling to speak and draw attention to them.

“I’m no seeker-slave.” The old woman at the next workstation
glared in Bethany’s
direction. “They shouldn’t force me to stand here waiting.”

Elisheba tapped the hardened steel worktop with her broken
fingernail three times. It was their personal code for patience. Bethany didn’t need
Elisheba’s caution. She wouldn’t answer the angry woman. She might have laughed
had there been any energy left in her body. These people could label her
anything they chose. She wasn’t here to please them. Her purpose was to
endure—until the One finally called her home.

Sounds intriguing. I’m
eager to get my copy. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Thank you, Edie, for
sharing this book with us. I don’t read a lot of Sci-fi/Fantasy books, but I’ve
read several I really liked. This sounds like it will be on that list.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

This sounds like quite an interesting book. I would love to read it. I especially enjoyed the interview. I would have loved to participate in that BMW driving school. A number of years ago, I owned a Mustang. The top speed on the speedometer was 140. I always wanted to take it to Daytona to see what it would do on a super speedway. Edward A in VA